Inside the New York Yankees clubhouse with MLB.com beat writer Bryan Hoch.

4/21 – Yankees vs. A’s

Let’s try this again after Monday’s rainout …

Early notes — Xavier Nady has a partial ligament tear in his right elbow but may be able to avoid season-ending Tommy John surgery with approximately four to six weeks of rehab … Chien-Ming Wang will pitch an extended spring game in Tampa on Thursday, after which point he will be re-evaluated.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman hasn’t ruled out the chance that Wang is hiding an injury and the medical staff will be testing him to see why his mechanics are off by so much. Cashman also said he would be “surprised” if Wang was fixed after just one start against the extended spring kids, which makes this sound like he’s likely to be DLed very soon unless something drastic happens.

An observation I wanted to share from pre-game — at the old Stadium, during batting practice, there used to be a rowdy gathering of fans on top of the Yankees dugout clamoring for autographs when the players came off the field. Now, because there’s a virtual moat separating those seats from the concourse, it’s basically a ghost town.

Today, one of the players bounced a ball off the dugout roof to a young kid waiting and the kid didn’t even smile, just snagged it in his glove like he was expecting it. I’m trying to imagine … if I was eight years old and a big leaguer tossed me a ball, it would have made my year. The reaction (or lack thereof) really was quite disappointing.

Great play by Brett Gardner in the top of the first inning. That kid can play a little. The Yankees are piecing it together against Dana Eveland in the second.

I was wondering? If Cashman and the medical team can’t find anything physically wrong with the Wang-er to put him on the DL, can they put him on the DL with a psychological injury. Because if he continually keeps giving up 34 runs a game, he’s either nuts or making me mentally want to puke from watching him! Anyone’s thoughts?

As for last night’s game, Andy is providing sweet vindication for all the “He’s done” naysayers (the same lot who gave Moose up for dead at the end of the 2007 season.) For some reason, if you don’t throw 95 and fan 9 a game you’re “done”. Andy’s NEVER done that but he has something that a LOAD of other pitchers don’t – the ability to pitch in the Bronx. his career numbers prove that out.

“I must say I very impressed with Rivera. He was shaky the last couple of seasons. He is back to dominance.”

Come on bpark, it’s not like your baseball credibility can take too many hits:

Rivera 2008 was 39 for 40 in save opportunities and had the second lowest ERA’s of his career. He allowed the fewest hits, fewest runs and by FAR the fewest walks of his career while fanning 77. Not EXACTLY “shaky”.

Basically, a good solid game all round. Pettite got into trouble a couple of innings but pitched out of it. Bruney was awesome again except for allowing a couple of hits and Rivera was his usual dominant self. Cody Ransom is hopeless both defensively and offensively. He waved at several pitches and missed a couple of balls at 3rd base he should have made. Hopefully nothing happens to A Rod when he gets back or management is going to have to go out to get a bonafide 3rd baseman. Good to know Wang is going down to Tampa for some work and will miss his next start. Good to get a win and a loss in Toronto. Bob

Goodnight Fellas.
I must say I very impressed with Rivera. He was shaky the last couple of seasons. He is back to dominance.
This Gardner’s first full year, he could be last back his BA is better than I expected.
Ralph you missed mt point, I want a DH would can give people days off in the field. Sui is not that guy.

I think Sheff will breakdown but depending on how they use him, they might be able to keep him rested enough for him ot be productive. Giambi seems to be playing 1B like he did last year, I think he’ll be fine.

Swisher is starting, so he is not an option to DH more than a couple of times a week.
Does anyone know if Ransom is in there strictly for defensive purposes? He is as bad as Duncan was last year.
Aceves and Igawa are on the list behind Hughes but neither is on the 40 man roster, so Kennadia may be first called up after Hughes.

Sheff on this team? That’s the dumbest thing I have heard. Dude can barely play the OF or run. Personally, I’m glad we got rid of Giambi in favor of Teixeira. You got a young player who potentially could hit 30+ HR’s and 100+RBI’s every year compared to GIambi who is pretty much done and can’t even hit much anymore. The idea of keeping GIambi on this team and a bench player like Sheff is idiotic.

Sheff on this team? That’s the dumbest thing I have heard. Dude can barely play the OF or run. Personally, I’m glad we got rid of Giambi in favor of Teixeira. You got a young player who potentially could hit 30+ HR’s and 100+RBI’s every year compared to GIambi who is pretty much done and can’t even hit much anymore. The idea of keeping GIambi on this team and a bench player like Sheff is idiotic.

Sheff on this team? That’s the dumbest thing I have heard. Dude can barely play the OF or run. Personally, I’m glad we got rid of Giambi in favor of Teixeira. You got a young player who potentially could hit 30+ HR’s and 100+RBI’s every year compared to GIambi who is pretty much done and can’t even hit much anymore. The idea of keeping GIambi on this team and a bench player like Sheff is idiotic.

I am reasonable confident that we will get quality starts from Pettitte, CC and Burnett, Mussina too if he was to come back. Will they go 8 innings? well they gonna need to with our offense struggling with bases loaded.

I still think we should DL Wang bring up Hughs and let Wang work his problems out in Tampa, then start AA ,AAA and back to the majors. LET HIM TAKE HIS time. I bet he is still thinking about his foot it HAS to be in his head!!!
Get rid of Ransom he is a WASTE!! between Gardner, Ransom the bottom of our lineup S U C K S!! I am NOT an A-ROID fan but I hope he can get back soon, remember it still will take him a couple of weeks to get on his game so what are we talking 4-5 weeks until we have a good lineup? C R A P !!

I am not even sure Matsui is a dh, I called it, he was struggling to run the bases, sure enough he had fluid in his knee, we are going to have to keep draining it. Bone on bone?
I agree Sheff is about done but atleast he can give people days off, I was ridiculed for suggesting bring him back in a part time role.

Thanks Bryan,
bpark I’ll take Sheff at least he can play the out field. matsui is just another DH with a bum leg. Shame I really liked Godzilla too. But players get older YES SHEFF TOO,HURT MATSUI but for the start of this year I would have taken shef!!

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